Slicing machine



June 9, 1931. c. F. M. VAN'IBERKEL 1,309,610

SLICINGMACHINB Filed June 14, 1928 2 SheetsSheet 2 Patented June 9, 1931 meme owner: I orriee eoR EL-Is Ivr. VAN ERKE Q, 0F WASSE1\TAA1;. iYfiii ifiRiANbs; A sigegg to s. SCLIOING MACHINE oo vIPANY, or LA FORTE; INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA Application filed June 14', 1 9 28, 'riil No; 285,346; and in area it firitain JI'ine 2i 1&527.

This invention re'la'testo machines for she ifig I'liittI'lCl other 'SllbStaflCS l'flClIfiS t0 conveyrs used, or intended for lIS iII associa'itio'n with such maehine's forthe purpose 5 of removing the slices from the knife as they are cut thereby and ar'r' ing them to a position in' which they can be discharged for wrqnpir'ig; j

Such eonveyer's usuzilly include endless traveling; elements in the form of a belt or chain arranged-in pairs one above the other in a horizontal plane. A disadvantage in this fprm of apparatus is the belt may stretch z'z' nd become loose and at ehain, if used, may loosen fln-ongh We d!" and become noisy. The objeet of the present inventionis'to pi'ovid means to niiintzi'in the traveling element taut, and more particularly to use the tightening means in connection With travelling elements made of flexible or resilient material;

In accordance with the present invention, the slice convey er comprises, in combination, two super osed, travelin belts of flexible material, members interoonneeti'ng the belts Q5 and supporting prongs on Which to impale the slices, and means for maintainin the tension of belts constant, in spiteof the stretching or Wearing of the belts. Prefer ably, the belts and gro'o'ves'in thepulleys for their reception, are; trapezi'a'l in cross seetioh'. The members supporting the rongsnfay eonsist" of bars which are set back from the periphery of the belts for the purpose of in suring' that the distanee between the extremities of the" prongs supported by adja ent members remainsconstant, as herein-after ex-- pl'ained.

Ina preferred construction, the belts part; 1y Wrap a pair of driven pulleys and a pair of ireelyrotatable pulleys Whichlatter are u rge'chtby a spring or equivalent means, away from said driven pulleys in. order to exert a predetermined tension on both belts simultaneously. The spring, or equivalent 5 1'neans',may act on'the freely rotatable pulleys through mechanism so contrived that,:by dis placing a hand; niember the said pulleys air'e shifted and the belts end-prong" supports tl'iereby permitted to be'streightway removed bodilyfromthe-mahine:

drawn to larger scale; showing certainof V the Working parts in different positions.

The slicingmachine shown in the drawings comprises the usual base 1, rotary knife 2, substance-supporting carria e and flywheel the carrieige 3' bein'gladzipted" to be reeipro'cixted along guides 5', 6 on the b'zfise 1 by rotation of the fly-Wheel 4, through the intermediary of the usual Well-known crank and eonnecting rod mechanism.

The conv'eyr comprises a superposed pair of pqra'llel rubber belts 11, 12'i'1'1terc0hneeted by a series of vertical bars" (two only being shown in Fig. 1'); each of which bars 13 supports rowof outwardly projecting prongs 1 4: on" which the shoes; as they are cut, are impaled in known manner; Each bar 18' is" set back inwardly from the periphery of the belts 11, 12; Where indicated by the numerziil- 1'5", and formed with upwardly and downwardly projecting lugs 16 end 17 secured by bolts 18" to the belts. The fact that-the bars 13' are set back? in this" fashion insures-[that the distane between theektremities' of the prongs of one row and" those ofthe prongsf'of the zi'djfsuc'eilt' row is thesam'e' When the belts are pa'ssing'around' the pulleys 31, 321111637, 38, hereinafter referred to, as when they are passing straight from pulley to'pulley.

.T-hecoriveyerproper e. the parts 11,

I2 1'3 and 14) is'p'osi'tioneol' between uppe f and lower horizontal plates 19, 20' which are interconnected; and maintained rig-idly in spaced co-re1'2tti0ns'hip','by a central pillar 2'1" riveted"- totlre" plates 19', 20; Thelower'plate 20 rests upon a braicket' 22 outstandingfrom the .b'zpse 'l, the entire structure 19, 20 and 21 being. removablyseoured' to the bracket. 22 by nut 28 screw-threaded on :i stud 24L:

projecting downward through the plate 20 end bracket 22- from the pillar 2'1.

Extending between the two plates 19, 20 are two vertical shafts 25 and 26 disposed one on each side of the pillar 21. The shaft 25 is rotatably mounted in ball bearings 27, 28 fitted in sockets 29, 30 in the plates 19, 20, and has secured to it, near its ends, two pulleys 31, 32. The shaft 26 is not rotatable, and is fitted at its ends into blocks 33, 34 which are slidably mounted in guideways 35, 36 in the plates 19, 20. Two pulleys 37 38 are rotatably mounted on ball bearings 39 (one only being shown) fitted to the shaft 26 near its ends. The pulleys 31 and 37 are wrapped by the belt 11, and the pulleys 32 and 38 are wrapped by the belt 12. As

shown, the belts and the grooves for their reception in the pulleys are trapezial in cross-section in orderto-avoid wear between the belts and their grooves.

In order to maintain the belts 11, 12 properly tensioned, the pulleys 37 38 are normally urged away from the pulleys 31, 32 by the action of a tension spring 41, which is anchored to a pin 42 near'the foot of the pillar 21 and is connected to the free end of one arm 43 of a bell crank lever 43, 44, fulcrumed at 45 on the pillar 21. The other arm 44 of the bell crank lever carries a roller 46 which cooperates with one end of a bar 47, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 48 to the shaft 26. The bar 47 is supported by a bracket 49 on the pillar 21, the bracket 49 serving also as an abutment for the toe 50 (see Figs. 3 and 4) of a hand lever 51, pivotally connected at 52 to an extension 53 of the bar 47 The hand lever 51 is adapted to co-operate with a pin 54 at the free end of the extension 53. The hand lever 51 extends through a gate 55 in the upper plate 19.

The normal working posit-ion of the parts is shown clearly in Fig. 3. In this position, the roller 46 bears against the adjacent end face 47 of the bar 47 and urges the bar to gether with the pulleys 37, 38 away from the pulleys 31, 32, thereby causing the belts 11, 12 to be tensioned. By moving the hand lever 51 to the left (i. e. into the position shown in Fig. 4), the hand lever fulcrums about its toe 50 and displaces the bar 47 to the left. The roller 46 is also displaced to the left and, at the same time, rides downward over the end face 47 of the bar 47 until, finally, it leaves the face 47, and bears against the lower face of the bar. In this position of the roller 46, the spring 41is totally inoperative as regards its function of imparting to the bar 47 an axial thrust. .The bar 47 can ,now be withdrawn freely toward the left by continu ing the movement of the hand lever 51 to the left-hand of the gate 55, the hand lever contacting with the pin 54 sothat the hand lever and the bar move solidly as one body. By reason of the slidable mounting of the blocks 33, 34 in the plates 19,20, when the hand lever 51 is moved to the left, the blocks 33, 34 and the pulleys 37, 38 move freely in conjunction with the bar 47. Should the hand lever be so moved, the conveyer proper could straightway be removed from the pulleys and lifted clear of the machine for cleaning, inspection or repair.

A roller 56, journaled on a bracket 57 on the pillar 21, may be provided in order to enable the bar 47 to be easily withdrawn in spite of the upthrust thereon of the roller 46 acting under the tension of the spring 41. Both rollers 46 and 56 may be mounted on ball bearings.

The conveyer is arranged to operate in well-known manner, the shaft 25 being intermittently rotated from the reciprocatory carriage 3 through the agency of a train of mechanism comprising a rack 58 on the carriage 3, a pinion 59 meshing with the rack 58, a pinion 60 rigidly connected to the same spindle as the pinion 59 and a spur-wheel 61 meshing with the pinion 60, the spur-wheel 61 being secured to the shaft 25.

If desired, in lieu of securing the pronga around which said elements are guided, a

pair of spaced supports upon which said pulleys are mounted, a pair of spaced plates, each plate being disposed at the opposite ends of said supports, alined guides at one end of each plate in which the opposite ends of one of said supports. are slidably received, the ends of said other support being mounted in the other ends of said plates, a spacing member connecting said plates, and spring-operated means mounted on said spacing member l and connected with said slidably mounted support to urge said support away from said spacing member and maintain said traveling element taut.

2. A slice conveyer for slicing machines 33 comprising in combination; a traveling element, slice-engaging means carried by said traveling element: spaced pulleys around which said traveling element is guided, a

mounting for each of said pulleys, one of said mountings being stationary and the other movable; a supporting member having a lever pivoted thereto, a connecting means extending from said movable mounting to a position adjacent said lever, a spring needs-1o attached to one arm of said lever tending to swing said lever around its pivot, the other arm of said lever being operatively associated with said connecting member to urge said movable mounting away from said stationary mounting to maintain said traveling element taut.

3. A slice conveyer for slicing machines comprising in combination; a traveling element, slice-engaging means carried by said traveling element; spaced pulleys around which said traveling element is guided, a mounting for each of said pulleys, one of said mountings being stationary and the other movable; a supporting structure having ,a lever pivoted thereto, a connecting member attached to said movable mounting and slidably supported on said supporting structure adjacent said lever, a spring connected to one arm of said lever tending to swing said lever about its pivot, the other end of said lever engaging said connecting member to exert pressure on said-movable mounting to maintain said traveling element taut.

4. A slice conveyer for slicing machines comprising in combination; a traveling element, slice-engaging means carried by said traveling element; spaced pulleys around which said traveling element is guided, a mounting for each of said pulleys, one of said mountings being stationary and the other movable; a supporting structure having a lever pivoted thereto, a connecting member attached to said movable mounting and slidably supported on said supporting structure adjacent said lever, a spring connected to one arm of said lever tending to swing said lever about its pivot, the other end of said lever engaging said connecting member to exert pressure on said movable mounting to maintain said traveling element taut, and a hand member operative to slacken said fleigible element, said hand member comprising a lever pivoted on said connecting member and having a toe portion engaging said supporting structure,

5. A slice conveyer for slicing machines comprising in combination; a traveling element, slice-engaging means carried by said traveling element; spaced pulleys around which said traveling element is guided, one

pulley having a movable and the other a stationary mounting, a supporting structure having a lever pivoted thereto, a connecting member attached to said movable mounting and slidably'supported on said supporting structure adjacent said lever, said connecting member including a horizontal portion and an upturned end, astop member on said upturned end; a spring connected to one arm of said lever tending to swing said lever about its pivot, the other end of said lever engaging said upturned end to exert pressure on said movable mounting to maintain said traveling element taut, and a hand lever p1voted to said upturned end of said connecting member, said hand lever having a toe portion engaging said supporting structure.

6. A slice conveyer for slicing machines comprising in combination; a traveling ele ment, slice-engaging means carried by said traveling element; spaced pulleys around which said traveling element is guided, one pulley having a movable and the other a stationary mounting, a supporting structure ,liaving' a lever pivoted thereto, a connecting member attached'to said movable mounting and sl idably supported on said supporting structure adjacent said lever, said connecting member including a horizontal portion and an upturned end, a stop member on said up turned end; a spring connected to one arm of said lever tending to swing said lever about its pivot, the other end of said lever engaging said upturned end to exert pressure on said movable mounting to maintain said traveling element taut, and a hand lever pivoted to said upturned end of said connecting member, said hand lever having a toe portion engaging said supporting structure, said first-mentioned lever being adapted to press against the horizontal portion of said connecting member when said connecting member lSI QlSPZlCtGCl and serving'to lock said con-' necting member in retracted position.

7. A slice conveyer for slicing machines comprising in combination; a traveling element, slice-engaging means carried by said traveling element, spaced pulleys around which said traveling element isguided, a mounting for each of said pulleys, one of said mountings being stationary and the other movable; a supportingstructure having a spring actuated' means mounted thereon, a connecting member extending from said movable mounting to aposition adjacent said spring-actuated means, said: spring-actuated means being adapted to bear against said connecting member to maintain said traveling element taut.-

8. A slice conveyer for slicing'machines comprising in combination; a traveling ele' ment, slice-engaging means carried by said:

traveling element; spaced pulleys around which said traveling element isguided', a

mounting for each of said pulleys, one of said mountings being stationary and the other movable; a supporting structure having a spring actu'ated means mounted there" on, a connecting member extending from said movable mounting to apositiorr adjacent said spring-actuated means, said spring-actuated means being adapted to bear against said connecting member to maintain said traveling element taut, and a hand lever on said connecting member having a toe portion adapted to engage said supporting structure to retract said connecting member against the action of said spring-actuated means.

9. A slice conveyer for slicing machines comprising in combination; a pair of pulleys, one movably and the other stationarily mounted, a flexible resilient band connecting said pulleys and exerting a tension tending to draw said pulleys together, a slice-engaging means carried by said band, and means connected with said movably mounted pulley tending to resist the tension exerted by said band and maintain said band taut.

10. A slice conveyer for slicing machines comprising in combination; a pair of pulleys, one movably and the other stationarily mounted, a flexible resilient band connecting said pulleys and exerting a tension tending to draw said pulleys together, slice-engaging means carried by said band, and spring-actuated means associated with said movably mounted pulley tending to resist the tension exerted by said band and maintain said band taut.

11. A slice conveyer for slicing machines comprising in combination; a pair of spaced supports, a pair of spaced pulleys on each 2 of said supports; one of said supports being movable and the other stationary; a traveling element connecting said pulleys; slice-engaging means carried by said traveling element; a plate disposed at the opposite ends .30 of said supports; a spacing member connecting said plates; said plates having at one end alined guides in which the opposite ends of one of said supports are slidably mounted, the other of said supports being mounted in the other ends of said plates; a bell crank lever pivoted on said spacing member, a spring tending to rotate said lever on its pivot, a roller on one end of said lever; a bar having an upturned end attached to said O movable support and slidably mounted on said spacing member, said roller normally tending to bear against said upturned end to maintain said traveling element taut, a hand lever extending through one of said plates pivoted on said upturned end of said bar; said lever having a toe portion adapted to contact with a stationary element and force said bar toward said stationary support when said hand lever is swung, said bar be- 5 ing adapted to ride over said roller and turn said bell crank against the tension of said spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 31st day of 515 May A. D. 1928.

CORNELIS F. M. VAN BERKEL. 

